The Luckiest Man in America

Plot

In 1984, Mike Larson applies to appear on the American game sow Press Your Luck. He quickly starts winning, quite a substantial amount of money.

Behind the scenes the producers scramble, when they discover that Mike may have worked out how to memorise the game from videos in his van – and try to work out what they can do to stop him.

Direction

Solid direction, from Samir Oliveros, with near perfect aesthetics that look and feel, and sound exactly like the early to mid 1980s. Even the score by John Carroll Kirby has has the monotone finish to it that was so present.

Cast/Characters

The always delivers Paul Walter Hauser perfectly encapsulates the mannerisms of Mike Larson.

Walton Goggins plays Peter Tomarken, the host of Press Your Luck.

David Strathairn plays Bill Carruthers, one of the top producers.

Shamier Anderson, plays Chuck another senior producer, who clashes with Bill during their investigations.

Other cast include Maisie Williams (in a rather wastted role as Sylvia a stage hand), Brian Geraghty and Patti Harrison as Ed and Janie (the fellow contestants on the episode) and Johnny Knoxville (as Leon Hart, in an odd moment in the film I will touch on in a moment).

Breakdown

Fairly easy film to watch, with a run time of a little under 90 minutes, including credit sequences.

This is also all based on a true story, (with clear addition to add to the “Hollywoodism”). Incidentally, the $110k he wins on the show, is almost $350k in 2026 money.

Paul Walter Hauser is simply fantastic, and surely deserves the recognition he deserves for bringing such nuanced to every performance I’ve seen him in (Richard Jewell, Queenpins, among others).

I really enjoyed the set designs, and I felt as though we were really stepping back in time to the 80s. This felt reminiscent of another film set in this era set on a television studio (Woman of the Hour directed by Anna Kendrick, if you haven’t seen it, get on it). There is also a “monotone” score that works well for the film too. I loved the retro camera cuts from scene to scene as well.

I actually felt there could have been slightly more added to the overall narrative, as at one stage Hauser’s Larson believing himself caught, panics and wanders through both the parking lot, and then into the set of another television show. This was all done so quickly, I felt it should have either been removed entirely or – extended to give the scene more purpose.

I would have also liked more of Maise Williams, as she seemed to be a ‘popular casting’ – but her character didn’t really seem too important to the script. I would have liked more between Strathairn’s Bill and Anderson’s Chuck too – as this seemed to be bookmarked on the arrival of their boss.

Overall

A remarkably easy to watch and follow film, complemented only by the performance of Hauser, who has a knack for playing these types of roles (based on real life people.)

Some great supporting cast, although some are wasted in rather nothing roles.

A recommend, and please check out my podcast where we discuss this one.

3.5/5

Please check out my Podcast on this movie